The United States has enacted sanctions against a network accused of recruiting former Colombian soldiers and providing training for participants in Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict. According to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), this network, which comprises eight entities and individuals predominantly of Colombian nationality, has been supporting the Sudanese paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Since 2024, it has been reported that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries have traveled to Sudan, taking roles as infantry soldiers and drone pilots for the RSF. This alarming trend follows a statement from Colombian President Gustavo Petro last year, where he asserted that individuals who “spill young blood for money in foreign countries must be punished criminally.”
The historical context of Colombian soldiers in foreign conflicts
The involvement of Colombian military personnel in overseas conflicts is not a new phenomenon; it dates back several decades and includes participation in the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This involvement was often in exchange for US military assistance in Colombia’s prolonged struggle against drug trafficking and insurgent groups.
Alfonso Manzur, a retired military officer who has transitioned into academia, highlighted that this historical context has resulted in a growing number of recently retired Colombian soldiers facing financial instability. He mentioned that as a consequence, “we see more Colombian ex-soldiers on missions abroad.” Sadly, many of these retired soldiers are lured with false promises of low-risk employment only to find themselves on the front lines, as seen in the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.
In 2024, the Colombian foreign ministry acknowledged that citizens were being misled by “sophisticated human trafficking networks” into becoming mercenaries in global conflicts.
US actions and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan
On Tuesday, the OFAC specifically targeted this network for its role in recruiting combatants for the RSF, which has been engaged in fierce battles against the Sudanese army since April 2023. John Hurley, the Treasury’s under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, remarked,
“The RSF has shown again and again that it is willing to target civilians – including infants and young children.”
He described the group’s actions as contributing to a deepening humanitarian crisis and destabilizing the region, thereby facilitating the emergence of terrorist organizations.
Further investigations by the State Department have corroborated claims that the RSF and its affiliated militias systematically attack civilians, including horrific acts of violence against men, women, and children. Earlier this year, the RSF was determined to have committed acts of genocide, despite both the paramilitary group and the Sudanese army facing repeated accusations of war crimes.
The network implicated in aiding the RSF includes four entities and four individuals, notably a dual Colombian-Italian national, a former military officer currently based in the United Arab Emirates—a country that has faced allegations of supplying arms to the RSF, which it denies.
The Treasury Department has declared,
“All property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons… or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported.”
The US has accused the primarily Colombian network of not only recruiting mercenaries but also providing “tactical and technical expertise” and even training children for combat.
Reports indicate that Colombian fighters have participated in various battles across Sudan, including key locations such as Khartoum, Omdurman, Kordofan, and el-Fasher. Notably, the RSF made significant advances recently, capturing the city of el-Fasher in October after a prolonged siege that led to widespread starvation.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with estimates suggesting that over 5,000 people have lost their lives amid the RSF’s aggressive maneuvers against the Sudanese army. The Kordofan region, which is home to nearly eight million residents and positioned between Khartoum and Darfur, has emerged as a critical frontline.
Tragically, just this past Monday, at least 114 individuals, including 63 children, were reported killed due to attacks on a kindergarten and a hospital in South Kordofan, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the strike as “senseless” and reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire. Additionally, the RSF has reportedly seized control of Sudan’s largest oil field, Heglig, deeming it a “turning point for the liberation” of the nation.